Dire Dawa under Coali tion Rule:Elhiopia's Regional Ethnic Politics or Federal Gcopolitics?

Abstract

Ethiopia adopted ethnic based federalism to manage its ethno-linguistic cleavages
two decades ago, and subsequently, the city of Dire Dawa became one of
the. bones of contention territories be/ween Drama and Somali ethnic forces.
ThIS paper assesses the underlying /actors which caused the Federal Governme~
t to di~e.clfy administer the city, and shed light from below on the pattern
of I/s c~)Q!ltlOn rule arrangements since 1993 and the consequences of using
consoclOilOnal model. The finding has attempted to establish that Ihe rise of
terrilorial ownership conjficts over Dire Dawa, the multi-ethnic nO/lire oJ the
city, and the geopolitical significance of Dire Dawa especially in connection
with Ethiopia s dependence on IssaiSomali-controlled Djibouti seaport, ;n permutation,
have set Dire Dawa within the Jederal jurisdiction with charter SlalUs
but withollt conslillllional recognilion. As a resull, Dire Dawa lingered under
centrally assigned IInelected commillee rules until its first local municipal election
in 2008. The current magic formula known as the 40:40:20 is the result of
political deal agreed between the ruling parties of Oromia and Somali regions
in 2006. Finally, the paper has revealed thallhe special administrallon of the
city has not only promoted linguistic segmental autonomy in public schools and
broadcasting media but also caused ethnically unfair access 10 civil service jobs,
and 'electing without choosing 'party politics.